Poultry feeder



March 16 1926.

F. H. GERBIG ET AL POULTRY FEEDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 9 I 1924WW M v 0 wmfl mm,

ATTORNEY March '16 1926. Y 1,577,222

F. 'H. GERBIG El AL POULTRY FEEDER Filed June 9, 24 2 Sheets-Sheet 2ATTORNEY vide means for automatically turning on- Patented Mar. 16,122$.

barren s'rsrss Parana orrics.

FRANK H. GERBIG AND WILLEAM C. HENNINGSEN, 0F WATERTOWN WISCONSIN.

Postwar FEEDER.

Application filed June 9,

in early hours of the morning for this purpose; I In carry ng out theinvention we also prolights atthe time the feeder is put in op eration,so that the poultry can leave their roostfor the purpose of feeding.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understoodwhen the following detailed description is read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction,combination and arrangement of parts as claimed. V

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals ofreference indicate similar parts in the several'view's, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the poultry feeder arranged in a setposition."

Figure 2 is a View showing the feeder in elevation but in an operativeposition.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the feeder.

Figure 1 is asectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the switch included in the circuit with theelectric lamp.

Figure 6 is adetailview of the combined bottom and spreader support forthe feeder. Figure 7 is a detail view of the pulley. Figure 8 is adetailview of the trigger.

Figure 9 is a detail view of one of the stops for limiting the movementof the feeder.

Referring to the drawing in detail, 10 represents a receptacle or hopperfor the reception of the feed, the bottom of which is of frusto-conicalformation and indicated at 11, thereby providing a restricted openingthrough which the feed flows. This opening is normallyclosed by asubstantially 1924. SeriaI No. 718,903.

conical shape false bottom and spreader indicated at 12 and formed witha plurality or seriesof openings 13 as shown in Figure 1.

Rising from this false bottom and spreader is a rod 14: which passesthrough the reits upper end as at 18 as clearly shown in Figure 6. Thecylindrical portion 15 just mentioned cooperates with a trigger forsupporting the false bottom and spreader 12 in a closed position, whichtrigger is shown in detail in Figure 8.

This trigger consists of a block 19 having a series of spacedsuperimposed bores 20 arranged transversely of said block, the uppermostbore receiving a spring pressed trigger 21 in the nature of a'slidingpin. This pin is normally projected beyond one side of the block bymeans of the spring 22, in which position it is arranged beneath thecylindrical portion 15 carried by the rod 14:, and thus supports thefalse bottom and spreader 12 in a closed position such as shown inFigure 4. Supported on one side of the receptacle 10 is an alarm clock23, the shaft 2 1 of which has connectedthereto a flexible element 25,and adapted to be wound about said shaft when the alarm is soundedcausing the shaft 24 to rotate. The

other end of this flexible element 25 is connected to the pin or trigger21, so that when the flexible element is wound about the shaft 2 1 itretracts the trigger or pin 21 within the particular bore of the block19, thereby releasing the cylindrical member 15, and allowing the falsebottom and spreader 12 to gravitate to open position such as shown inFigure 2. Arranged to be positioned in any of the other bores 20 of theblock 19 is a stop pin 26 which is always arranged in the path ofmovement of the cylindrical member 15 carried by the rod 14, so thatsaid cylindrical member will strike the pin 26 and will be thus limitedin its movement,

to regulate the degree of opening of the false bottom and spreader 12.This manifestly will also regulate the spreading of the feed as it flowsfrom the receptacle 10, the feed striking the false bottom or spreaderand being spread thereby in different directions on the ground or thelike, some of the feed passing through the openings 13 for this purpose,The receptacle 10 is equipped with a handle or bail which is supportedby a block and pulley 28, which is adapted to travel over a wire cableSupported upon this wire line at suitably spaced points are stops suchas shown in liigure 9 each stop including a pair of angle shape plates30 which are bolted or otherwise suitably secured together but arrangedat opposite Sides ol the wire cable 29 as illustrated. These steps limitthe movement of the feeder along the wire cable as will be readilyunderstood, and the dcg ce of movement can be thus varied by varying thespace or ditance between the respective stops. One of the stops is alsoutilized to hold the feeder in its entirety in a normal inactiveposition as shown in Figure l, in which instance it will be noted thatthe rod 17 rising from the tubular member 15 is positioned behind theadjacent step.

In accordance with the invention we contemplate the using at a pluralityot electric light lamps 31 which are connected in circuit with a switchadapted to be automatically operated to close the circuit when thefeeder is called into n t This switch is ClGlUlY shown in Figures l ando wherein it will be noted that 3:3 constitutes a liJ-ccd contact andarranged upon a blocl: Z33 oi insulasted material to cooperate with acontact S-l pivoted on the same block. The contact 34. is normallyspaced from the Contact 32 and when the tlecdcr is arrainrcd in theposition shown in lf ig 'ure l, the ollfset extremity 18 of the rod 17engages an insulated piece 35 su 'iportcd on one end oi the mov: ble contact 3-1. Now, when the trigger or pin l'l is actuated to release thefalse bottom and Sljl'ttttltl' 133 the rod l-l gravitatcs through thereceptacle l0, and incident to this tall oi the rod, the offsetextremity l8 oi the rod l? swings the movable contact ill; on its pivotbringing it into engagement with the fixed contact thereb' closingr lhecircuit to the electric lamps 31. The lights are thus turned onautomatically so that the poultry will leave their roosts and no toteed.

In practice. the clock 23 is set for any particular hour or minute ofthe day or nightwhich it desired to teed the poultry, and thecylindrical member 15 carried by the rod which supports the false bottomor spreader is arrangi ed to repose upon the trigger or pin 21. llhenthe parts 2 'e arrangerl in this position the .lalse bottom or spreaderl2. is arranged to close the ()l lfilllllg in the bottom of thereceptacle or hopper l0,

which of course retains the feed within the receptacle until the timefor leading the poultry has arrived. Whcn the parts are thus arranged,the feeder is disposed at its starting point on the wire cable 1!) withthe oll'set extremity 18 oil the rod 17 in engagement with the .mm ablecontact 34 above mentioned. has arrived for the use ot the feeder, theshaft 24: oi the clock rotates in a dirccti on to wind the flexibleclement thereon, thus retracting the trigger or pin 21, whereupon themovable bottom and spreader l2 gravitates to an open position. lt isduring this operation that the :lccder is released to travel along thewire cable 29, and just prior to moving; along said wire, incident tothe tall or drop of the movable bottom 12, the contact tl-Ll is swunginto engagement with the contain 32 closing the circuit to the lamps 31.The movement of the 'tccder along the cable 29 is checked by the otherstop shown in Figure 1. During the travel oi the feeder along; the cable25), the feed flows from the receptacle l0, striking the spreader 12 andisthus equally distributed along the ground to be consumed.

ll hile it is believed that from the toregoing descriptiorn the natureand advantagl'cs oi: the invention will be readily apparent, we desireto have it understood that we do not limit ourselves to what is hereinshown and described, and that such changes may be resorted to whendesired as fall within the scope oi what is claimed.

llhat we claim is:

An auton'iatically operable poultry feeder comprising a IGCQptRClGhaving); an opening in the bottom thereof, a con'ibincd movable bottomand spreader normally closing said opening, a rod rising from themovable bottoin through the receptacle a member carried by said rod,time controlled mechanism including a normally projected triggeranranacd to engage said member and support the bottom in its closedposition, and adapted to be retracted at a predetermined time to allowthe bottom to fall to an open position, and adjustable means adapted tobe arranged in the path of movement of said member to limit the openingmovement of said bottom and thus regulate the flow of feed from thereceptacle.

In testimony whereof we allix our signaturcs.

Fl-ANK H. GERBIG. WILLIAM C. HENNINGSEN.

ll hcn the predetermined time

